Building Resilience: The Conceptual Basis and Research Evidence for Resilience Training Programs

Abstract

The relationship between adverse experiences and later development has been explored by many researchers, leading to the conceptualization of resilience as a factor explaining the normal or optimal development of some individuals exposed to adversity. Today many different interventions exist aiming to improve the ability of individuals to respond to adversity. In this narrative literature review, we evaluate the literature surrounding resilience and resilience training, discussing the quality of the evidence supporting resilience training, theoretical and practical differences between types of training, and the impact of resilience and psychological training on outcome measures across a variety of settings. The results of our review show that the quality of the literature is mixed, resilience training is not well differentiated from other forms of training, and that the impact of psychological training on later functioning depends heavily on the type of outcome measured and the setting of the training. Further research must be conducted prior to the implementation of resilience training programs in order to assure their efficacy and effectiveness in proposed contexts.

You need a thick skin in this game: Journalists’ attitudes to resilience training as a strategy for combatting online violence

“…Resilience, a term used in psychology, is the capacity to recover well from adverse circumstances and to adapt effectively 'in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress' (American Psychology Association in Sadhbh et al 2018). Historically, it has referred to both an individual's protective characteristics (their personal traits and socio-economic factors), which allow them to bounce back after negative events, and their ability to process, cope with and respond to those situations (Forbes and Fikretoglu 2018). There is now an emerging body of social sciences research evidencing positive outcomes from resilience training programmes (RTPs) in high-risk fields (Cheshire et al 2017;Joyce et al 2019;Kent et al 2014).…”

A resilience group training program for people with multiple sclerosis: Results of a pilot single-blind randomized controlled trial and nested qualitative study

“…Despite these promising findings, a recent narrative review of resilience training identified numerous methodological limitations. First, evidence of the benefits of resilience training remains limited; second, resilience training interventions are often not well differentiated from other forms of training; third, the effects of the training on psychological functioning are strongly influenced by the outcome measures selected and the setting of the training [25].…”

“…In view of the promising preliminary pilot data on the READY for MS resilience training intervention and taking into consideration the limitations highlighted by Forbes and Fikretoglu [25], the present study aimed to evaluate the program using greater methodological rigor based on the Medical Research Council (MRC) framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions. The MRC framework has a phased approach, from a pre-clinical research phase to a final phase in which the intervention is introduced into the health service, leading to a theory-driven intervention: a "bottom up" development which is crucial to design a phase III trial with an appropriate theory and pilot work [36].…”

The interventions for resilience of breast cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…It may be because psychological resilience training program helps patients control their emotions, cope with setbacks and adapt to adversity. The in uence of psychological training on future functions depends heavily on the type of measurement results and the setting of the training [50]. Therefore, further researches about the effect of the resilience training should be conducted for a more de nitive conclusion due to the difference in content, delivery and length.…”